Red Bull Cliff Diving Series Returns to Abereiddy

Red Bull Cliff Diving Series Returns to Abereiddy

Untouched rocks, monoliths, iconic landmarks and buildings. This purest extreme sports competition hits new waters in its fifth year and determines a new champion during eight challenging competitions across Europe, Asia and North and South America.
And on 13th and 14th of September, ten of the world’s top divers and four wildcard entrants will compete at Abereiddy’s famous Blue Lagoon as part of the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship.

What is real cliff diving
In theory cliff diving is jumping from high cliffs into water.
Platforms are used in competition to allow the athletes to do the most difficult dives.
Diving directly from the rocks limits the diver to easier dives. In competitions artistic moves are performed during the dive and judged by a jury identifying the winner.
The discipline has a very long tradition and was “invented” in Maui, Hawaii, back in the 1770s. Within years cliff diving emerged from an initiation tactics for warriors as a competitive sport. However, in the past cliff divers were usually characterized as world-weary kamikazes and the sport was erroneously considered a mere tourist attraction from Acapulco. Cliff diving is far more than Acapulco or a pleasing background for lovely TV commercials; it is a sport, which places the highest demands on mind and body. Many high divers see their discipline as a further development of the Olympic diving competition, which most of them exercised before changing to cliff diving. Through continuous competitions around the globe wide acceptance for this extremely demanding discipline is being established and the athletes are receiving the respect they deserve.
In competitive cliff diving safety plays an important role. Thus, certain regulations have been defined, such as the height limit (28m) and the water depth (at least 5m), as well as emergency scuba divers and paramedic units on site.Why did Red Bull create a Cliff Diving World Series?
In the past Red Bull used to organise cliff diving competitions always in direct collaboration with the divers. The divers’ feedback and the spectators’ enthusiasm lead to a natural development of single events to a world series with strong locations and the world’s best athletes, providing them with a platform to spread this pure extreme sport all over the world.When did the World Series start?
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series started in 2009 and after four seasons, the championship can look back at 28 successful competitions, more than 460.000 spectators and 1.650 international media on-site, including live broadcasts.
Since the introduction of the World Series the sport of cliff diving has pushed its limits to new heights and the athletes have increased the level of high diving to an extent, which was not even thought of a few years ago.Why is Red Bull Cliff Diving a high-class sports competition?
The best cliff divers in the world participate in these competitions and the whole set up (at least 26.5 metres or higher and at least 6 stops per year) challenge the divers not only physically but also mentally. The impact of hitting the water after 27 metres of free fall is nine times harder than jumping from a 10m tower. If you are not perfectly trained and experienced you risk your life.What is the Format of the Competition?
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series follows the traditional high diving format and is a mix of the rules from FINA and HDA. Each competition has four rounds in 2 days. Divers hand in their four planned dives the day before the 1st day of competition – dives shall consist of two required dives of a maximum degree of difficulty (DD) of 3.8 and two optional dives assigned a degree of difficulty computed from the HDA (High Diving Alliance) table. These dives are judged by five high diving judges. The highest and lowest score are discarded; the remaining three scores are added and multiplied by the degree of difficulty to provide the total score for each dive.
Ahead of each competition a draw will determine the diving order for the first round. The first round of dives will feature one required dive of a fixed DD of 3.8, the results of which will determine the ranking for the head-to-head. 1st goes against 14th, 2nd against 13th, etc.
In the head-to-head rounds, all divers do one required dive (DD 3.8.) and one optional dive. 7 winners will advance from the head-to-head. There will also be one lucky loser (the diver with the highest score of all losers). The 8 remaining divers will do one final optional dive. The order will be determined by the points accumulated from the first 3 rounds of dives and will be in reverse order. The winner of any individual tour stop will be the diver with the highest points total from all 4 dives.
Winner of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be the athlete with the hig

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Milford Haven: MP to visit flooding victims

STEPHEN CRABB MP has said he will be in Milford Haven on Friday (Nov 23) to visit the victims of the flooding in Lower Priory and Havens Head.

Locals who have been affected by the flooding – and those with concerns about the flooding repeating in the area – are being encouraged to voice their concerns to the local MP.

Mr Crabb’s office has said he will be arriving at 11am at Lower Priory.

Meanwhile, the Port of Milford Haven has hit back at claims from the flooded residents of Lower Priory and Havens Head that a blocked culvert was to blame.

Several people have come forward to say that something must be wrong with the drainage under the Havens Head Business Park, owned by the Port, for the flooding to have got so deep, and so quickly.

One of those people is Colin Laugharne from Milford Haven – a former employee of Milford Haven Docks Company until 15 years ago – who told The Herald that he used to be involved with maintaining the culvert over several years.

Mr Laugharne is certain that a blockage caused the flooding and that the Port was to blame.

He said: “Millions of pounds worth of damage has probably been caused by this flooding. If you go to the dock wall you can see that the water is just dribbling out. How can that be the case if it is working properly? If you look at the road in front of the library you will see water coming up and out of the drains, rather than going in. That is because the water can get as far as that point and then it has no other place to go.

“The blockage is therefore between the library and The Docks itself.”

But the Port said that water continues to flow freely through the culverts.

A press officer told The Herald on the telephone that the claim of a blockage was completely false.

A statement from the Interim Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven quickly followed.

Andy Jones said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with our neighbouring residents and businesses today as they deal with the devastating effects of significant flooding following the sustained bouts of extraordinary rainfall coupled with high tides.

“Since yesterday, our staff have been working collaboratively with multiple agencies, including the emergency services, to do everything possible to minimise the flooding impact.

“Our staff have been onsite throughout and we can confirm that the water continues to flow freely through the culverts which carry water from Hubberston and Goose Pills into Milford Docks. This is a system which we monitor and maintain on a regular basis.

“With regards to water levels in the dock itself, we are rapidly sluicing water out as soon as the tide allows.

Additionally, the emergency services have installed pumps to take water directly from flooded areas into the dock.
“It is important to note that lock gates are not able to resist the force of the incoming tide. We have no choice but to let the water flow into the dock as the tide comes in and close the lock gates at high tide.

“We will continue to work in collaboration with the emergency services as the situation develops. Further weather and flooding updates can be found on Pembrokeshire County Council’s website and social media channels.”

AN ADDICT of the highly addictive psychoactive drug ‘spice’ stole the collection money from a Milford Haven church whilst the vicar was celebrating his last meal with parishioners before moving away.

33-year-old Sam Maguire, originally from Birmingham, but now of Hawthorn Path, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, was charged with burglary following a report of a burglary at St. Katherine’s Church yesterday (Nov 18).

Maguire appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this morning (Nov 19) where he admitted the theft.

The money was stolen whilst parishioners were at a ‘bring and share’ lunch at the Royal British Legion to celebrate Father Harri Williams’ last service before he leaves town.

Father Harri, who was previously a curate in Haverfordwest, moved to Milford Haven in 2013 aged just 27.

He said: ‘’The last six years have been a fantastic time, I’m amazed at what has happened here. Our congregation on a Sunday has nearly doubled, we’ve got children here every Sunday, teenagers in our youth group, lots of young families, it’s really a proper church family.

‘’To see the volume increase in attendance is remarkable. When I first came there were no children, the church was just quiet. And now there’s life here, and it’s brought so much joy to many of the older members of the congregation too, who have found a new lease of life.

‘’We’ve got toddlers walking around and people in their 90’s, that’s how it should be.’’

Within his time he has doubled the congregation figure – which now sits at 120 regular worshipers.

He strengthened his community bond in his influence in the re-opening of the Mount Community Centre early 2018.

“The Mount has been very important to me,’’ he told the Milford Mercury.

“When we think of the significant social and economic problems in our community, providing a centre that people can access, that they can gain skills and build friendships, and have a safe place even, I think is so important.

“Hopefully, we’ve changed people attitude towards the church, and shown that it’s here to serve people.’’

Father Harri Williams confirmed to The Herald that someone had taken the collection from the church and added that he did not want to give a comment on the matter as ‘the gentleman had been arrested and was being dealt with by the police’.

Earlier this year, Sam Maguire and his girlfriend Shannon Saunders were stars of a viral social media video of their complaint to the Job Centre regarding late payment of benefits.

RSPCA investigating after five cats seemingly poisoned

AN RSPCA appeal for information has been launched amid concerns a number of cats have been poisoned near Whitland.

RSPCA officers have been contacted with reports that five cats have died in suspicious circumstances in the vicinity of Whitland and Lampeter Velfrey. The incidents happened on High Street.

Three of the cats were owned by local resident Michelle Davies. All her cats faced similar symptoms – appearing lethargic, and – in some cases – had blood appearing from the mouth.

Ms Davies’ cats died between November 6-9. Freya died first (Nov 6), while the two other owned cats – Sox and Smudge – had to be put to sleep last Friday (Nov 9).

Two feral cats in the area, meanwhile, are also understood to have endured the same fate.

It is unclear whether the incidents were deliberate, or a tragic accident – but RSPCA say for five cats to be impacted is a ‘major cause for concern’.

The RSPCA has now issued a warning to cat owners in the local area to be vigilant, and urged anyone with any information potentially related to these feared poisonings to contact their 24-hour emergency line.

Keith Hogben, RSPCA inspector, said: “Our thoughts are with Michelle, following the loss of these cats in the Whitland area of Pembrokeshire.

“To lose a cat is horrendous, but for three to experience such a horrible fate is unthinkable. Indeed, the number of cats we understand have been poisoned in the area is a major cause for concern.

“We’re urging cat owners in the local community to be vigilant and know the signs of a suspected poisoning.

“Vomiting, a depressed or sleepy demeanour, appearing drunk or uncoordinated, seizures, and breathing difficulties could all be symptoms of a cat being poisoned.

“Anyone fearing their cat may have been poisoned should try and remain calm, move the moggy away from the source and contact a vet immediately.

“Potentially hazardous substances – like antifreeze – should also be used and stored responsibly, and safely away from any curious felines.

“The RSPCA does not know if these suspected poisonings in Whitland were deliberate or a tragic accident – but anyone with information can call our emergency line on 0300 1234 999, 24 hours a day.”

Michelle Davies, the owner of the cats, added: “It is absolutely awful. We saw all of the cats display similar symptoms – becoming very lethargic and unwell so quickly. It was horrible to see – and vets were absolutely sure the cause was antifreeze poisoning.”

Should you wish to help RSPCA Cymru with rescues like this, you can donate online. The RSPCA is a charity and relies on public donations.